In an incredible story of animal bravery, an African giant pouched rat named Ronin has sniffed his way into the Guinness Book of World Records.
This extraordinary rat has discovered 109 landmines and 15 items of 'unexploded ordnance' scattered across Cambodia's landscapes since 2021, according to the organization he works for - the non-profit APOPO, based in Tanzania, which employs hundreds of these amazing little animals.
According to the world record book, Ronin's "crucial work" is making a significant difference to people who live with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last."
APOPO says that this record-breaking rodent will continue his remarkable work for at least two more years. "Ronin's achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of positive reinforcement training. He's not just an asset; he's a valued partner and colleague," Phanny, Ronin's handler, proudly stated in a release from APOPO.
Ronin's work in Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province surpassed the previous record holder: Magawa, a rat who sniffed out 71 mines and was presented with a gold medal for his heroism in 2020.
APOPO has been training rats like Ronin to detect mines for over 25 years. The training process involves clicker training, where the rat is taught to associate the sound of a click with a reward, encouraging them to learn how to sniff out explosives, reports CBS.
The organization currently boasts 104 rodent recruits, affectionately known as HeroRATS. They're eventually trained to detect chemicals found in landmines and other abandoned battlefield weapons.
Due to their small size, they're not heavy enough to trigger the mines. The charity claims that these rats can inspect an area the size of a tennis court in about 30 minutes, a task that would take a human with a metal detector up to four days.
-
-
- New Social Security fraud checks start Monday — here's what you should know
- Exact two steps to take if you're missing your $5,108 Social Security payment
These HeroRATS are trained to work systematically within a grid pattern, signaling the presence of landmines by scratching at the ground. Rats like Ronin typically work for about half an hour each day, according to APOPO.
Once they reach a certain age, they retire and continue to be cared for by APOPO. Magawa, the previous record-holder, retired in 2021 and passed away in 2022.
Cambodia is grappling with the perilous legacy of conflicts past, where up to six million unexploded munitions remain hidden beneath its soil, according to the Landmine Monitor's 2024 report. The lingering remnants of war have inflicted roughly 20,000 fatalities and 45,000 injuries since 1979, as documented by the Landmine Monitor.
Tireless demining initiatives have been in full swing for years, involving heroic efforts by creatures like Ronin and other APOPO-trained rats.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.
